Easivent Blog

Here at Easivent we wanted to make it easier for you to get your job done. So, we put together a range of AOV Kits which provide a solution for just about any smoke ventilation requirement in a building.

Easivent’s Kits are designed for self-installation and meet the requirements of Approved Document B of the Building Regulations. The Kits can be installed as either stand-alone systems or be inter-connected to form modular "smoke shaft" systems without the need of additional interfaces or software.

Stairwell ventilation can be achieved by automatically opening a window within the stairwell. As always this is subject to the minimum free area being achieved when calculated using the method in diagram C7 of Approved Document B.

It is recommended that bottom hinged outward opening windows are selected for efficient smoke evacuation, however this is not a requirement of ADB. Stairwell ventilators are more commonly used for replacing fresh air in a lobby extract system.

A variety of actuators are available for different window types depending on what the required free area is.

A stairwell smoke ventilator is an automatic opening ventilator (AOV) providing at least 1.0m2 of free area when open. It helps to evacuate any smoke that gets in the stairwell of small buildings, or more commonly it provides replacement air for a lobby smoke extract system in large buildings.

Smoke control systems are installed to ensure stairways and communal corridors remain relatively free from smoke and heat in the event of a fire within a dwelling to enable occupants of the building to escape safely. In tall buildings (with a floor over 18m high) these systems assist firefighters in gaining access to fight the fire from inside the building.

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All content is for advice purposes only. We would recommend you seek confirmation from either a fire engineer or building control before any installation is commenced. Under the Construction Products Regulations (CPR) it is a legal requirement to use only certified products for smoke ventilation. For more information see SCS Group's Technical Bulletin here.